Keywords
4Cs
creativity
communication
collaboration
critical thinking
transferable competencies
employability
adaptability
higher education.
How to Cite
Abstract
This article critically examines the historical and conceptual evolution of “soft skills” from their early use in military and organizational training to their contemporary status as essential competencies in higher education and the global labour market. The analysis reveals that the concept has developed across multiple disciplinary traditions, resulting in persistent terminological diversity and the absence of a universally accepted definition or classification. Particular attention is given to the transition from perceiving soft skills as supplementary non-technical attributes to conceptualizing them as transferable and developable competencies that contribute to employability, adaptability, and effective social and professional performance. This historical trajectory establishes the theoretical foundation for further defining soft skills within philological education and substantiating the selection of critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity (the 4Cs) as the core competencies addressed in the present study.References
1. Barrie, S. C. (2006). Understanding what we mean by the generic attributes of graduates. Higher Education, 51(2), 215–241. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-004-6384-7
2. Cinque, M. (2016). "Lost in translation." Soft skills development in European countries. Tuning Journal for Higher Education, 3(2), 389–427. https://doi.org/10.18543/tjhe- 3(2)-2016pp389-427
3. Cinque, M. (2017). MOOCs and soft skills: A comparison of different courses on creativity. Journal e-Learning Knowledge Society, 96. https://doi.org/10.20368/1971-8829/1386
4. Griffin, P., McGaw, B., & Care, E. (Eds.). (2012). Assessment and teaching of 21st century skills. Springer.
5. Heckman, J. J., & Kautz, T. (2012). Hard evidence on soft skills. Labour Economics, 19(4), 451–464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2012.05.014
6. Joynes, C., Rossignoli, S., & Fenyiwa Amonoo-Kuofi, E. (2019). 21st century skills: Evidence of issues in definition, demand and delivery for development contexts (K4D Helpdesk Report). Institute of Development Studies.
7. Matteson, M. L., Anderson, L., & Boyden, C. (2016). "Soft skills": A phrase in search meaning. portal: Libraries Academy, 88. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2016.0009
8. OECD. (2015). Skills for social progress: The power of social and emotional skills. OECD Publishing.
9. Orih, D., Heyeres, M., Morgan, R., Udah, H., & Tsey, K. (2024). A systematic review of soft skills interventions within curricula from school to university level. Frontiers in Education, 9, 1383297. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1383297
10. Robles, M. M. (2012). Executive perceptions of the top 10 soft skills needed in today's workplace. Business Communication Quarterly, 465. https://doi.org/10.1177/1080569912460400
11. Schulz, B. (2008). The importance of soft skills: Education beyond academic knowledge. NAWA Journal of Language and Communication, June, 146–154.
12. Succi, C., & Canovi, M. (2020). Soft skills to enhance graduate employability: Comparing students and employers' perceptions. Studies in Higher Education, 45(9), 1834– 1847. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1585420
13. Thornhill-Miller, B., Camarda, A., Mercier, M., Burkhardt, J.-M., Morisseau, T., Bourgeois-Bougrine, S., Vinchon, F., El Hayek, S., Augereau-Landais, M., Mourey, F., Feybesse, C., Sundquist, D., & Lubart, T. (2023). Creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration: Assessment, certification, and promotion of 21st century skills for the future work education. Journal Intelligence, 54. https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence11030054
14. Trilling, B., & Fadel, C. (2009). 21st century skills: Learning for life in our times. Jossey-Bass.
15. UNESCO. (2016). Transversal competencies in education policy and practice (Phase III): Regional synthesis report. UNESCO Bangkok.
16. World Economic Forum. (2025). Future of jobs report 2025. World Economic Forum.
17. Zahn, E.-M., Schöbel, S., Saqr, M., & Söllner, M. (2025). Mapping soft skills and further research directions for higher education: A bibliometric approach with structural topic modelling. Studies Higher Education, 1075. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2024.2361831